Things You'll Need:
- Bookcases
- Books
- Coral
- Bookends
- Ceramic and glass accessories
- Vases
- Framed Photos/Art
- Wallpaper/Paint
- Magazine holders
- Small cardboard
- Metal or canvas-covered boxes
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Step 1
Don’t stuff bookshelves to the gills. Open bookcases look their best when they are no more than three-quarters full. Give your books and other belongings a little room to breathe.
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Step 2
Arrange books by color and size. You’ll be amazed how much more pulled-together your bookcase will look when you organize it this way. (Let’s be honest, it’s not like the alphabetical system was working out so well anyway.)
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Step 3
Vary the arrangements. Line some books up side by side, stack others. It’s a good way to keep the shelves from looking boring, and the stacks of books make efficient bookends.
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Step 4
Speaking of bookends—get some! And add other decorative items too, like ceramics or glass vases.
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Step 5
Add art. A few framed pieces resting casually against the back of the shelf adds a nice decorative touch to your utilitarian bookcase.
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Step 6
If you’ve got a bookcase with a back, consider painting it a bright color or wallpapering it to give your books and other belongings a beautiful background.
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Step 7
If you need to store small, unattractive items or papers—and let’s face it, we’ve all got them—invest in some magazine holders and small cardboard, metal or canvas-covered boxes.














